I have a data plan for all of my smartphones, computers, and tablets, so I have to be very careful staying within my allotted usage. When I discovered that my iPad downloaded a 3 GB software update (not apps, the iOS update), I am not happy. I do not know how to turn off the automatic downloading of iOS updates. All of the answers I get on the Apple Support Communities tell me that iOS updates are not installed, only downloaded. It is the automatic downloading of iOS updates that is the problem, because my data gets unintentionally used. How do I turn off the automatic downloading of iOS updates?
IOS – How to turn off the automatic downloading of iOS updates
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Related Solutions
TripMode was made specifically for this purpose, and even turns on automatically when connected to designated cell hotspots.
Google-fu would seem to think the only way is to keep your device too full to take the download.
You can prevent it from downloading over 'mobile data' but not if it can see WiFi.
To prevent mobile downloads, go to Settings > App & iTunes Stores & disable the Use Mobile Data option.
The specific types above are to prevent the phone downloading other data types at all - meaning you will need to update via iTunes on your computer.
None of those options will prevent an iOS update from downloading [even Updates, which you may think would be the one] but the Mobile option will prevent it using your phone's data plan.
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Best Answer
This is really now a non-answer - empirically, it appears no-one has yet found a way to prevent iOS updates from downloading except by leaving insufficient space for it to fit.
Settings > App & iTunes Stores...
Switch off either Updates specifically, or all Mobile data